Windows Key - Use With Microsoft Windows

Use With Microsoft Windows

Even though Windows 3.1 does not natively support the Windows key, the Windows key on Microsoft keyboards released prior to Windows 95 will work in Windows 3.1 with special software that accompanies the keyboard. On Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows NT 4.0, and all later versions of Windows, the Windows key on keyboards released prior to Windows 95 behaves identically to the Windows key on keyboards released after Windows 95.

Within the standard Windows Shell, pressing and releasing the Windows key by itself opens the Start Menu (focusing the Quick Search box in Windows Vista and Windows 7) which then enables mnemonic keys to be used.

If one presses the Windows Key, any open PC games, or other similar programs where the taskbar is not shown, will minimize without exiting the program.

Pressing the key in combination with other keys allows invoking many common functions through the keyboard. What Windows key combinations ("shortcuts") are available and active in a given Windows session depends on many factors, including accessibility options, the type of the session (regular or Terminal Services), the Windows version, the presence of specific software such as IntelliType, and others. The External links section below provides a list of Microsoft articles with more details.